Jolly Jack 1847 JOLLY JACK WHEN fierce political debate Throughout the isle was storming, And Rads attacked the throne and state, To calm the furious rage of each, Jack's bed was straw, 'twas warm and soft, His broken jug was emptied oft, His mistress' portrait decked the wall, His mirror had a crack; Yet, gay and glad, though this was all To give advice to avarice, Teach pride its mean condition, And held his philosophic school Beneath the "George and Dragon." When village Solons cursed the Lords, "I enter not the Church," he said, His talk it was of feast and fun; His guide the Almanack; And when Jack prayed, as oft he would, Give each his creed, let each proclaim I trust in Thee, and not in them, "Forgive me if, midst all Thy works, And think there's faith among the Turks, And kindly is my laughter; I cannot see the smiling earth, And think there's hell hereafter." Jack died; he left no legacy, Save that his story teaches: Content to peevish poverty; Ye scornful great, ye envious small, Come follow in his track; We all were happier, if we all Would copy Jolly Jack. William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863] THE KING OF BRENTFORD* AFTER BÉRANGER THERE was a King in Brentford, of whom no legends tell, * For the original of this poem see page 3840. Hoch! Der Kaiser All in a fine mud palace, each day he took four meals, 1849 Sometimes to view his kingdoms, rode forth this monarch good, And then a prancing jackass-he royally bestrode. There were no costly habits-with which this King was cursed, Except (and where's the harm on't?)—a somewhat lively thirst; But people must pay taxes, and Kings must have their sport; So out of every gallon-His Grace he took a quart. He pleased the ladies round him,--with manners soft and bland; With reason good, they named him,-the father of his land. Each year his mighty armies-marched forth in gallant show; Their enemies were targets,-their bullets they were tow. He vexed no quiet neighbor, no useless conquest made, But by the laws of pleasure, his peaceful realm he swayed. And in the years he reigned,-through all this country wide, There was no cause for weeping, save when the good man died. The faithful men of Brentford,-do still their King deplore, HOCH! DER KAISER DER Kaiser of dis Faterland Und Gott on high all dings command, Vile some men sing der power divine, Dere's France, she swaggers all aroundt; She will not dare to fight again, But if she shouldt, I'll show her blain Dere's grandma dinks she's nicht small beer, She dinks, good frau, fine ships she's got Ach! We could knock dem! Pouf! Like dot, In dimes of peace, brepare for wars, In fact, I humor efery whim, Gott pulls mit me, und I mit him, Alexander Macgregor Rose (1846-1898) NONGTONGPAW JOHN BULL for pastime took a prance, And knowledge gained in foreign parts. Nongtongpaw Monsieur, obsequious, heard him speak, John, to the Palais-Royal come, John saw Versailles from Marli's height, On everything he lays his claw! I should like to dine with Nongtongpaw." Next tripping came a courtly fair, John cried, enchanted with her air, "What lovely wench is that there here?" "Ventch! Je vous n'entends pas, Monsieur." "What, he again? Upon my life!" A palace, lands, and then a wife Sir Joshua might delight to draw: I should like to sup with Nongtongpaw. "But hold! whose funeral's that?" cries John. I'd with him breakfast, dine, and sup; Good night t' ye, Mounseer Nongtongpaw!" 1851 Charles Dibdin (1745-1814] |